B.C. Place getting facelift

May 20, 200812:00 AM PDT

Building receiving retractable roof

By JEFF HODSON

The tarnished marshmallow on Vancouver’s skyline is toast.
B.C. Place is getting a new retractable roof, a new artsy neighbour and a new tenant.
Premier Gordon Campbell announced Friday that the 25-year-old concrete stadium, home to the opening and closing ceremonies for the 2010 Games, will be capped by a new retractable roof in the eight months following the Olympics.
The premier also announced that the Vancouver Whitecaps FC — who confirmed that they are applying for a Major League Soccer franchise — would move into the stadium in 2011 while continuing to work on their waterfront stadium.
As well, Campbell announced that the new Vancouver Art Gallery would be built next to the stadium on the edge of False Creek. The government has already pledged $50 million to a new gallery.
The price tag of the new roof is unknown, but will be finalized within the next five months.
By some estimates, the retractable roof could cost in the ballpark of $200 million. More than $100 million will be generated through the development of area land.